Uther Pendragon

Uther Pendragon (384-446), also known as Emrys, was Duke of Hwicce from 418 to 446 and the father of King Arthur.

Biography
Uther Pendragon was born in 384 to the Guenet clan of Hwicce, and he was the brother of Aurelius Ambrosius. Aurelius became King of Britain after burning his father's killer Vortigern in his castle, and Uther later led expeditions to Ireland and against Vortigern's son Paschent and his Saxon allies. On his way to battle, Uther saw a comet in the shape of a dragon, which the wizard Merlin believed represented Aurelius' impending death and the rise of Uther; Uther had his army fly dragon standards, and he was victorious in battle. After Aurelius was poisoned by an assassin, Uther became Duke of Hwicce in 418. Uther secured Britain's frontiers and quelled Saxon uprisings with the aid of his retainers, including the Cornish duke Gorlois. However, Uther's obsession over Gorlois' wife Igraine led to war between the two men. Merlin used magic to allow himself to be disguised as Gorlois, allowing for him to impregnate Igraine with his child, the future King Arthur. Uther then assassinated Gorlois and married Igraine. Unfortunately, Uther fell ill, and the wars began to go badly against the Saxons. The ailing Uther defeated Hengist's son Octa at Verulamium, but the Saxons poisoned the spring near Verulamium, and Uther died after drinking from its waters.